Search This Blog

Subscribe to this blog

Follow by Email

Undressing - nudity and modelling in Second Life

The Models Workshop in Second Life recently held a lively discussion about nudity and SL modelling. It was prompted in part by a rather unpleasant episode of "slut shaming" some models on various blogs and social media, but this certainly isn't the first time the issue of what is and isn't "acceptable" for SL fashion models has raised it's head.

I was interested in attending because one of the targets of the recent slut shaming episode happened to be a Ghee store model - and a valued member of the team. The first I knew about it was when she tendered her resignation because she didn't want to "damage the brand". Warm and I had no difficulty in deciding to reject her resignation and reassure her that as long as what they do is not harmful to others, we have no issues at all with what modelling (or other) work Ghee models choose to do outside their working time at Ghee.

I am aware that there is a vocal section of the SL Fashion Industry that will not approve of this position. There are those who loudly protest that models doing nude or erotic work should not be accepted as part of mainstream fashion modelling. There were some at the workshop who stated that they would not wish to be part of any agency that allowed it's models to do nude work. As some of the biggest and most successful agencies in SL have no written policies on nudity, one can only assume that those models are self-selecting out of major career opportunities. What saddens me about this position is not people's personal preferences - I firmly believe that models should choose what work they do, and do work that they find enjoyable and fulfilling - it's that in an environment where people are supposed to be free to explore and express themselves, there are people who wish to limit other's freedom of choice. This position is the thin end of the wedge of a particularly unpleasant form of sexist bullying - so-called "slut shaming".

And to those who disguise their desire for censorship as pragmatic advice "Your career as an SL model will be damaged if you pose nude" I say this: I have published numerous nude, semi-nude and erotic photographs on my blog and my Flickr photo stream (including the new one above) throughout my career, and it has not made an iota of a difference to my (considerable) success as a model. Similarly, having a model on the Ghee Team who is associated with a company that produces virtual soft-core porn has not made an iota of a difference to our sales or store traffic. In the grand scheme of things, people really don't care what you do - as long as you're not hurting anybody.

This is the 21st Century, and we are inhabiting a virtual reality world where we can be whatever we want to be. Many people come to Second Life to explore aspects of sexuality and identity that they feel unable to explore in their real lives. Of course, nobody should feel pressured to do things they don't feel comfortable with, and that includes nude or erotic modelling. But it should be purely a matter of personal choice. Nobody should feel they can't take their pixel clothes off for a photo for fear of a backlash from the "moral majority" (who are actually just a loud minority) attempting to shame them on social media. And nobody should be made to feel that they can't start a career as a model because they have posed nude, or been a pole dancer, or a stripper, or an escort in the past - many of the biggest names in SL fashion have "shady" pasts!

I find bullying, in any form, considerably more offensive than I do images of avatars in states of undress, however "crude" the image. It saddens me deeply that there are those who are more vocal in their disapproval of pixel nudity than they are in challenging bullying. There is nothing shameful about the naked human form, whether in reality or virtually. If you don't like it, don't look. If you don't want to take your clothes off, keep them on. But please stop trying to impose your choices on everybody else!

Comments

Beautifully said! Thanks for writing this and thanks for standing up and defending those who choose to live their lives by their own truth rather than the intimidation of others. I have found in my Second Life that when I started living the way I wanted to live, rather than to the expectations of others, that I have been much more happy and fulfilled. The need for more voices like yours is important. Thanks again!

Well said Bea and Stunning photo, In my SL I stopped caring what others though I should or shouldn't do. I am kind and never hurt another so I can do what I damn well please...well when I get back/if I do You are beautiful and I have always been proud to call you my friend so you just keep being you <3

Personally, I am baffled by the Second Life Fashion "industry"...always have been. It interests me of late for twin reasons:

1. My SL girlfriend and partner, a newbie (1.5 years old) graduated from one of these modeling schools and founded a burgeoning label that actually makes money (She has a mainstore, a men's only store and a couple of auxillery stores).

2. Not so long ago I discovered a few great SL fashion photogs, liked their aesthetic, they had rate cards; so I commissioned them to style and shoot famous pornstars like Jennnnna Jamison, Partee Mytilli and Larry Vinaver CLOTHED lol.

Just a little background, for those who may not know "Jumpman Lane" from Adam. I founded a magazine called SLut back in 2007. I've fallen from one bit of drama to the next ever since. (So, incidentally, "slut" and "shame" have never been pejorative or even words that made it into the same context in my mind). We've covered fashion since day one because we can write what we want and do what we want. Our current fashion editrix Margaret Childs was SL Top Model 2008 whom I met at some fashion show in '08 where I was famously disabused for wearing a "Slut Mag" tag by the event's holders

My LONG association with the fashion industry has been plauged by such snooty rebuffs. I met caLLie cLine when I was 2 and she was 3 going on 4. We danced at some-long forgotton fashionista ball. She added me to her list and we were Friends for a Day until she realized exactly who I was.

One of my former editrices-in-chief is the SL daughter of that Reign Jamison gal that currently owns BOSL. The "daughter" dutifully asked the "mother" before accepting the slot, even offering to use an alt, just in case associating with me and Slut Magazine might hurt the "ma" and her magazine. "Mommy" had no issue.

When I relate such things to my partner Aboutface, lil fashionista that she is, she often replies, "It's because you are in the porn industry. People in fashion won't want to associate with you. Change the name of your magazine." I LAUGH and scoff "NEVER!" This is why. I had the great fortune of being denoobified by Lady Dawson, Class of 2003. (As an aside, she denoobified Torley Linden. I became a Sex God, he became a watermelon. Strange...).

What I learned at Lady's feet was simply a true understanding of Linden Lab's great tagline "Your World, Your Imagination." When Lady Dawson started in SL back in November of '03, there wasn't very much in Second Life. She can remeber the first this and the first that, who started this, when they changed that. Having been born in the early days of our little virtual world and NOT in the ready-made world of today, Lady knows and transfered to me that pioneering spirit from whence my exclamation, "Rules? RULES! Rules are for the weak!" flows."That's how it is" and "that's how it's done" are alien concepts to me.

I try to imbue this spirit into my partner, when she tells me things like "Models don't make money. They do it for the free clothes and love of fashion. That's how it is." Well I say "who decides such things?"

Fashionistas wont work for Slut Magazine because it's porn? Sure they will. They HAVE. They DO. We PAY for work around here. Hehehe.

Second Life is a grand adventure. Lighting should flash and thunder should crack every time you set foot on the GRID! Nobody can tell you what you can and cannot DO. This is the way I face Second Life thanks to Lady Dawson. I don't take SL "as is" so I see the omissions. I glimpse the opportunities. This is how I encourage my girlfriend. This is how I encourage you all. (I been saying it for years. Google it.): "I'm onna forced march alla way to the bank with mine! I'm goin to The Promised Land. Walk with me or get the F*CK outta the way! Before ya get run the f*ck ova!"

Popular Posts

Spreading a whole lot of seasonal goodwill, the Peace on Earth gridwide Hunt has become something of a Christmas tradition in Second Life as it now enters it's fifth year. In a fast changing virtual environment that's no mean achievement. With exclusive high quality free gifts from an incredible array of stores and designers, if you only do one hunt a year, this is the one to do!
Shown here are some of the gifts you can find. Skyler skin from Rockberry comes in a fatpack of 4 shades with cleavage and freckles options. The hair is Heaven from Emo-tions and comes in Snow and Black, complete with hair bases and tiara. The necklace is Peace from Vendome, and the dress is Joeys Mesh Cavalli Inspired Winter Gown from Paisley Daisy.
The fifth annual Peace on Earth Hunt starts on 1st December. Click here for information on how to join in the fun :) and Happy Hunting!

Summertime here in the UK means Wimbledon tennis, lazy days at the seaside, garden parties, picnics in the park, strawberries and cream. Unlike this summer (we're having a heatwave!) it often means rainy days too - so the outdoors bits don't always happen - but there are always strawberries and cream! Served cold from the fridge, with a generous dollop of double cream and a sprinkling of caster sugar, this is the quintessential English summer treat.

This fabulous swan tote bag that I found at The Liaison Collaborative was my inspiration for my strawberries and cream look - something classic, with a vintage feel, that could take you from a sea front promenade to a Buckingham Palace garden party in style.